Heel screw or protector for footwear.



A. CRAIG.

HEEL SCREW OR PROTECTOR FOR FOOTWEAR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13. I916.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.'

FIG

FIG '3 rne% onirnf ALEXANDER CRAIG, 0F SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

" HEEL scitnw on rnorno'ron non FOOTWEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

Application filed October 13, 1916. Serial No. 125,452.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER CRAIG, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Sydney, in the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel Screws or Protectors for Footwear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a screw protector whereby the heels and other tread parts of footwear may be protected from wear. The object of my invention is to provide a protector formed preferably of metal or a material more durable than leather which can be readily adjusted as it wears.

The invention consists essentially of a headless screw protector having a longitudinal slot in which can be inserted a screw driver or the like. The slot is preferably open at one side for the whole length of the protector. The protector is screwed into a suitable hole formed in the heel or other wearing part of the footwear leaving a very slight portion projecting outside the surface of the top lift or tread. Preferably a slight flat is formed on the longitudinal edges of the slot when open at one side.

In order that the invention may be readily understood I will refer to the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrat ing the application of the invention to the heel of a boot.

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the screw protector, and,

Fig. 4 a plan thereof.

The same numerals indicate the same parts.

5 is the heel of a boot and 6 a hole formed therein for'the reception of the protector. The latter is threaded at 7 and is provided with a single longitudinal slot 8 open at one side, the longitudinal edges being preferably slightly flattened as at 9 and the outer surface being roughened as at 10.

In applying the protector a suitable hole is made in the heel or sole and the protector driven therein by means of a screw driver or other suitable tool until a very sllght portion 11 projects beyond the tread surfaces of the heel or sole. During its passage into position the threads 7 take into the leather and after short use a bead 12 of leather is forced into the slot opening, said bead practically acting as a lock to maintain the protector in the set position.

When the protector wears flush with the leather the screw is withdrawn very slightly by means of the screw driver or tool until it again projects and this operation may be repeated as often as may be necessary. Should the hole in the leather become too large a protector of the form illustrated may be expanded by using the tool as a lever in the slot.

The slot is preferably filled with some comparatively soft substance such as lead, wax or pitch to prevent the entrance of dirt or water, and it is obvious that the slot need not extend the full length of the screw and that in some parts of footwear such as the heel the position of the protector may be adjusted from the inside of the boot provided the hole made therein extends through thereto.

Instead of the threads on the protector being continuous they may be interrupted so as to obtain a better grip in the leather.

I do not restrict myself to the number of protectors on a boot nor to the position in which they may be placed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. A protector for the tread surfaces of footwear, comprising a headless screw adapted to be inserted in a hole formed in the part of the footwear to be protected, said screw being provided with a single longitudinal slot which opens through the outer end of the screw and also opens through one side of the screw for the entire length of the screw, so as to allow a bead of leather to be forced into said slot and to permit the rotation and expansion of the screw by means of a tool introduced into the slot.

2. A protector for the tread surfaces of footwear, comprising a headless screw adapted to be inserted in a hole formed in the part of the footwear to be protected, said screw being provided with a single longitudinal slot which opens through the outer end of the screw and also opens through one side of the screw for the entire length of the screw and which has its longitudinal edges flat tened.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER CRAIG. Witnesses:

CHARLES E. GRAHAM, HENRY W. CLARKE.

Copies of this patent met; be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents,

Washington, D} G. 

